The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-09-26
SAMOA.
The German Squadron
Opposes King Nal
ietOa.
TAMAsEsE PROCLAIMED KING.
War Observation-Disclosures Shot Down
I'm inc Streets. T.. Bush TO be
Hung il Caught-NearIy
Two Hundred Houses
Burned Down.

on Saturday morning, there was COnsid-
cradle excitement when it became
known that King Malietoa had been de-
posed and war had been declared at Sa-
mOa. Before particulars are given it
would be as we'll to look back a little at
the history of Samoa and the beginning
of the cause of this trouble.
Some time ago the German Agent at
Samoa bullied MaIietoa into a special
secret agreement, which secured to Ger
man subjects immunities and facilities
for trading, to the exclusion Of the sub
jects of other kingdoms. This treaty,
surreptitiOusly obtained,
REUSED THE ENGLISH CONSUL,
Who insisted that British subjects
should not be excluded from its privi-
leges, and he carried his point. The
Germans by the treaty of January "a,
1879, ratified by the German and Sa-
moan Governments, secured title to
the German purchases of 5000 acres,
but in addition they claim some 10000
acres; the Americans claim 10000
acres; while the English claims are
5000 acres in Upolu, and 1885, 900 acres,
com prising nearly the whole of the fertile
and cultivated land in the island of
Savaii. In 1885 the American Consul,
Mr.. Greenbaum, checkmated the Ger
man Admiral and Consul, who were
then bent on carrying out the scheme
now apparently realised, by
HOSTING THE STARS AND STRIPES
Over the flag of His Samoan Majesty
King Malietoa. His action was not sus-
tanned by the United States Govern
ment, but it averted the threatened an
nexation for the time being. On that
occasion the German Consul had wan
tonly pulled down the Samoan flag and
hOisted the Imperial German flag at
Mulinu Point, and on the same day
Tamasese took the field against Malietoa.
significant of collision between the Ger
man authorities and the rebel leader.
The plot, however, did not succeed, ow-
ing to the American counter move.
Subsequently Malietoa~ and the Samoans
were stated to be anxious to be annexed
to New Zealand as a means of getting
rid of the
HATED GERMANS,
Whom the natives simply detest, but
the proposed Hinemoa expedition did
not eventuate, owing to the Imperial
authorities being averse to it. The
municipal district of Apia is governed by
a Municipal Board, consisting of six
members, namely, the English, Amer
lean and German Consuls, with one
member nominated by each Consul. 1t
exists under a convention entered into
by the Samoan Government with the
Governments of Great Britain, the
United States and Germany on Septem-
Der 2, 1879, and it is to be continued
until such time as the Samoan Govern
ment is IN a position to guarantee the
security OF life and property.
THE WHITE POPULATION
Is some 800, the annual exports are
$500, 900 and the imports $500, 900, most !
of the trade being done by the British, !
and the German trade principally by the |
German Plantation Company, of which |
Mr., Weber is agent.
Tamasese resides about thirteen miles |
from Apia, and was unknown a few
years ago; indeed, until the Germans
recognized and 1ostered his pseudo |
claims to get a foothold on the island, |
Malietoa could have easily disposed of
the rebel, who had only some 400 or 500 |
followers, but the Germans would not |
permit 1t, while the British and Amer
lean Consuls also dissuaded him from
PROCLAIMING WAR
Against the rebel chief, stating that it |
would lead to great destruction of life |
and property. On one occasion Admiral |
Knorr, of the Bismarck, sent a letter to
Malietoa, addressed ''To the High Chief |
Mahetoa," but the King returned the |
letter in polite terms, and it was subse-
quently re-addressed to Mahetoa &C.
cording to usage.
The population of the Samoan Group
is about ~, 900, and Malietoa has about /
l 900 followers under arms. For some /
time past the French and Germans have f.
been
SELLING FIREARMS
Without restraint in the group, but the F.
English traders are prohibited by the
English Government from doing so /
under severe penalties. 1t is believed /
that these arms are of a miscellaneous /
and inferior description, so that the Sa-
moan Government is in no condition to .
resist the German invasion.